ASHLAND, Neb. – Taking on a field exclusively filled with fellow NAIA programs, Men's and Women's Cross Country competed in the Blazing Tiger Classic on Saturday hosted by Doane College.
The Raven Women placed fourth as a team while the Raven Men placed ninth.
Three runners finished in the top 25 of the nearly 300-runner field. The Ravens were paced by Jeanna Marie Lotz, who placed 14th in a time of 22:24. Elizabeth Skendzel (18th) and Catherine Aaron (22nd) were the next two Ravens to finish, giving the the team three top 25 results. Cecilia Campos (28th), Josie Jansen (33rd), Helen Ullrich (34th) and Emilie Nelson (36th) rounded out the Ravens who scored points in the event.
For the Raven Men, they were paced by the 21st place finish from Joshua Melendez. Melendez finished the course in 25:19 to help give the Ravens two top 30 finishers in the event. Brendan Alfonso (29th), Will Niederee (40th), John Joyce (70th), Nicholas Kling (73rd), Joseph Accurso (75th) and Leo Cozzi (82nd) rounded out the Ravens scoring for the team results.
The Blazing Tiger Classic is the final regular-season event for both teams, who now being final preparations for the annual Heart Cross Country Championships. This year's Championships will return to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they are hosted by Mount Mercy University.
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